Practically every top official in county government is
talking about the importance of getting our economy
moving again, and while we’ve already fallen behind many
other counties in reopening restaurants and retail
stores, it does seem like they’re serious. Kelly Nix
reports.

The owner of the Tuck Box, who has so far resisted law
enforcement efforts to make him shut down his
restaurant, was ordered by a judge Thursday morning to
fall into line. Mary Schley has that one.

Bail has been set at nearly $5 million for the man
accused of cruelly assaulting a woman in her driveway on
13th Street almost two weeks ago. Mary Schley has that
story, too.

A coronavirus testing site at MPC this week drew so
many people wanting tests, it had to shut down early
several times and even had to cancel a day. A nurse
who’s helping farmworkers and their families learn how
to protect themselves from the virus says her biggest
challenge is convincing the immigrant workers that the
virus is real. Carmel will try to get its restaurants
humming with customers again by letting them use some of
the city’s streets for al fresco dining. Meanwhile, the
city will try to help close its budget gap with a host
of new fees. For the owners of a Carmel Valley business,
the losses they’ve incurred due to the shutdown have
been so bad, they may have to leave the area. The U.S.
Forest Service says, despite all the recent problems
with illegal campers, Big Sur’s campgrounds and trails
could be reopening soon. When Esalen gets back to the
business of helping everybody find themselves, they’ll
have to do it without communal housing or hut tubs.
Local thrift shops may be closed, but they’ll still want
your donations once their doors reopen. Youth baseball
and softball leagues are taking major financial hits,
even as they’re under pressure to refund fees for their
canceled seasons. The superintendent of schools was
suddenly forced out of her job this week, and everybody
is wondering why. The state’s “no bail” policy is
keeping lots of criminals out of jail and — guess what?
— some of them are committing new crimes almost as soon
as they’re released. Marina is trying again to stop Cal
Am from building a desal plant. The Rancho Cañada
housing project is on its way to getting a new EIR. The
renovation of the Ocean Avenue Memorial Arch is
complete. And my editorial says thank goodness for the
new sense of urgency at county government about putting
an end to this ridiculous shutdown.